Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve – The Best Conservation and Ecotourism Destination

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, located in western India, is well known on World map as a famous Wildlife tourism spot and perhaps the best Tiger sighting place in their natural habitat. The National Park is about 14 km away from the town Sawai Madhopur (nearest railway station) on Delhi-Mumbai broad gauge, 361 km from Delhi and 1027 km from Mumbai, 132 km from Jaipur (the nearest Airport) and 227 km from Agra. The Park is a Heritage site because of the picturesque ruins that dot the Park. It was the former hunting ground of the Kings of Jaipur Kingdom before 1955, when it was declared as Wildlife Sanctuary. It was included as a potential area under "Project Tiger" in 1973 and subsequently given the status of National Park in 1980.

The famous historical attraction in the Park is the Ranthambhore Fort, built in 10th century. It is considered to be one of the oldest Forts in the Rajasthan State (a State of India where approximately 80 % of all the international tourists certainly do visit, a report says). The Fort is dotted around with some splendid monuments like tombs, mosques, chhattries which are the silent witness of long history of the Fort. Jogi Mahal is another historical monument in the bank of Padma lake, near which the second largest Banyan tree of India grows. The Badal Mahal, which is also called as "Palace of Clouds", situated in the Fort seems as if hanging out in space. The famous 84-column Chhattari of King Hamir stands out magnificently where he used to hold an audience.

The rolling hills, valleys, natural and artificial lakes and ponds have further enhanced its aesthetic values. The valleys in flat terrain maintain several lakes and pools which are the permanent sources of water for wildlife. The Padma talab, Rajbag talab and Malik talab are some of the natural lakes in the Park. The other important water reservoirs include Galaisagar, Mansarover, Lahpur lake and several small scattered pools. These water bodies are fed by rain water through a network of seasonal streams, flowing through valleys. The streams flowing in the Park during rainy season, dry up later and several scattered pools of water in dry stream beds offer perennial water holes for wild animals.

The Park is fed by two River systems – the Banas and the Chambal, which girdle the Park from the north-west direction to the east and then to the south. The distance of the river-beds ranges from 5 to 20 kms from Park boundary. Both rivers have extensive deep and intricate ravines on the banks.

The dry deciduous forests of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve become bone dry during summer and luxurious green during rainy season when the Park gives a fascinating green appearance with luxuriant undergrowth of herbs and undershrubs, grasslands and dense canopy of trees, sustaining a highly variable biodiversity. Among fauna, besides Tiger, Panther, Hyena, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Spotted Dear, Blue Bull, Wild Boar, Chinkara, Indian Hare, Mongoose, Monitor Lizard, Crocodiles and several resident and migratory birds enrich the biodiversity of this Tiger Reserve. The dense forests and shrubby and herbaceous layers provide comfortable shelter and food for wild animals.

Ranthambhore is the perfect place for watching Wildlife and the natural beauty from close vicinity. Located on easily approachable site with varied means of transport and variable habitats, makes it one of the best sites for conservation and ecotourism. The diversified habitats, flora and fauna serve best photography site and worth to visit wildlife destination to Ranthambhore.